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Microsoft expands Intune PC management trial

Cloud-based service coming to the UK

Microsoft's Windows Intune trial is now available in six European countries

Microsoft has extended its beta trial of the Windows Intune PC management
service from 1,000 users in North America to 10,000 businesses in the UK,
France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Ireland.

Intune was
unveiled
in April, and allows IT staff to remotely monitor and manage company PCs
through a single cloud-based console.

The service costs $11 (£7.30) a month per PC, and will primarily target
mid-sized businesses that lack large IT departments.

Microsoft explained that it is also offering Intune to IT services firms
looking to offer customers remote support and management.

"Businesses get a great deal with Windows Intune for several reasons," said
Microsoft Intune group product manager Alex Heaton in a
blog
post.

"Windows Intune is built on a cloud service, so customers and partners can
realise the benefits of a modern PC management and security system without the
upfront software licences, server hardware, and IT labour costs required to set
up traditional on-premise solutions."

Microsoft said that it plans to launch the final release of the service early
next year in all of the current beta countries, with a larger global expansion
to follow throughout 2011.